For patients recovering from major surgeries such as hip and knee operations, the worst is far from over. A new study has shown that they also face the risk of suffering from blockages in blood vessels that are potentially fatal.

Findings of a study, released on Thursday morning at Oasia Hotel, showed that of the 1,103 patients who underwent major surgery at Khoo Teck Puat Hospital from 2011 to 2012, some 2.1 per cent of them were found to have developed the disease.

The study also showed that patients who are above 75 years old, female, have a history of such clots and ischemic heart disease - a condition that leads to heart attacks due to blockage of the blood vessels supplying oxygen to the heart - are more prone to developing the condition.

Called Venous Thrombo Embolism, the disease can come in two forms: Deep Vein Thrombosis, a blood clot that forms in the veins in areas such as the leg or pelvis, and the more dangerous Pulmonary Embolism - a blood clot that blocks vessels in the lungs.